Trusting God with the “If Onlys” & “Whys”

Again, I was challenged and encouraged by tonight’s reading for small groups.  Here’s a summary of the last 2 chapters.

Chapter 11 – Trusting God with the If Onlys

We must be content with whatever happens in our lives because “that which God chooses is better than what I choose.” (p. 173)

“If we are to find contentment in the midst of trial and uncertainty, we must accept our situation as being purposely allowed into our lives by a personal and loving God.”  It is sooo easy to think that God is being mean or unloving when trials come into our lives but if we trust in the character of God – His love, faithfulness, goodness, etc. – we can be confident that what He gives us is best for us.  As believers we need to be at peace with what God has given us.

Too often people focus on the problem and not the Problem Solver. (p. 176)  Focusing on the problem leads “to irrational thinking [and the loss of] all perspective.” (p. 175)  We see this displayed in the Israelites’ complaining in the wilderness when they said they wished they were back in Egypt.

If we are struggling with the “If Onlys” because of how another person has sinned against us, we MUST remember that we are responsible only for our own choices and not the choices that other people make.  (p. 178)

“We survive the packages of pain God allows in our lives by remembering who God is and what He has done in the past.” (p. 179)  We need to remember God’s character and His faithfulness!

“I will remember the deeds of the LORD; yes, I will remember Your miracles of long ago.  I will meditate on all Your works and consider all Your might deeds.  Your ways, O God, are holy.  What god is so great as our God?  You are the God who performs miracles; You display Your power among the peoples.” (Psalm 77:11-14)

We need to “focus on God and take Him at His Word – I know I shouldn’t listen to my feelings.” (p. 180)

Here is a good formula of what to remember when encountering a trial or great trouble:

“In time of trouble, say, ‘First, He brought me here.  It is by His will I am in this strait place; in that I will rest.’  Next, ‘He will keep me here in His love, and give me grace in this trial to behave as His child.’  Then say, ‘He will make the trial a blessing, teaching me lessons He intends me to learn, and working in me the grace He means to bestow.’  And last, say, ‘In His good time He can bring me out again.  How and when, He knows.’  Therefore, say, ‘I am here (1) by God’s appointment, (2) in His keeping, (3) under His training, (4) for His time.’” (Andrew Murray)


Chapter 12 – Trusting God with the Whys

It can be easy to trust God when our path seems laid out straight before us and when life is easy but, “The crooked times are difficult, not just because they’re crooked but because we can’t see how God is working.” (p. 186)

“The book of Ecclesiastes encourage us to rejoice when life is easy and to trust God when it isn’t.” (p. 186)

“Consider the work of God, for who is able to straighten what He has bent?  In the day of prosperity be happy, but in the day of adversity consider—God has made the one as well as the other so that man may not discover anything that will be after him.” (Ecclesiastes 7:13-14)

In the book of Habakkuk, the prophet asks God how long He will let violence and evil prevail.  God tells him that the Chaldeans will come and take over Judah.  Habakkuk is shocked and asks the Lord why this is to be so; he does not understand why God would counter evil with more evil.  However, in faith, Habakkuk asks why and then waits for God’s answer.  God confirms that the prophecy of the Chaldeans coming was true and commands His servant to live by faith.  “In other words, God didn’t explain Why; instead He told Habakkuk to trust Him with all his Whys Habakkuk was to trust God for what he didn’t understand, what he couldn’t see.  He was to walk in the dark with God.” (p. 192)  Habakkuk responds with these amazing words of faith:

“Though the fig tree should not blossom, and there be no fruit on the vines, thought the yield of the olive should fail, and the fields produce no food, though the flock should be cut off from the fold, and there be no cattle in the stalls, YET I will exult in the Lord, I will rejoice in the God of my salvation.  The Lord GOD is my strength, and He has made my feet like hinds’ feet, and makes me walk on my high places.” (Habakkuk 3:17-19)

In faith, Habakkuk “1) told his honest doubts to God; 2) resolved to wait on God; 3) chose to trust God in the dark.” (p. 192-193)

God never promises to explain the “whys” of life to us.  Although we may not understand these “whys” we must still say…“YET WILL I TRUST THE LORD GOD.  HE IS MY STRENGTH.”